Richmond Artist Channels Mental Health, Police Brutality Struggles into Powerful Paintings

Robert Hightower's raw, unfiltered art explores identity, resilience and the search for inner peace.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Artist Robert Hightower is using his experiences with bipolar II disorder and witnessing police brutality as inspiration for a compelling body of work that shifts between stark black and white figurative pieces and vibrant, distorted color explorations. Hightower's art aims to offer a safe space for self-reflection and to prompt viewers to contemplate the meaning of existence.

Why it matters

Hightower's art provides a powerful platform to raise awareness about mental health and police brutality, two critical issues that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. His work demonstrates how creative expression can be a transformative tool for personal growth and social change.

The details

Hightower began painting as a creative outlet, initially decorating his clothes with abstract designs. But his artistic practice blossomed during the pandemic, coinciding with his decision to enter therapy. His black and white paintings emerge from periods of depression, conveying a sense of weight and starkness, while his color-infused pieces embody the energy and dynamism of hypomania. This stylistic shift directly represents Hightower's lived experience navigating bipolar II disorder. His work also confronts the issue of police brutality, adding another layer of social commentary.

  • Hightower began painting as a creative outlet in the early 2020s.
  • His artistic practice truly blossomed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2025.
  • Hightower had a recent exhibition titled 'One Time Talker' at the 111 Minna Gallery in September 2025.

The players

Robert Hightower

An artist from Richmond, California who is channeling his experiences with bipolar II disorder and witnessing police brutality into a compelling body of work.

48 Hills

A local news publication that recently profiled Hightower and his art.

111 Minna Gallery

The gallery that hosted Hightower's recent exhibition 'One Time Talker' showcasing his raw and unfiltered paintings.

Spalding Nix Fine Art

The gallery that currently represents Hightower's paintings, which are described as having 'compressed & flattened' compositions that evoke 'an overwhelming, over-stimulated, and disorienting experience.'

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What they’re saying

“My black and white figurative works come from the depths of my depressive states, where everything feels heavy and stripped bare.”

— Robert Hightower, Artist (48 Hills)

“I hope that when people see my work they are given a moment of reflection, a chance to find a safe space within themselves to not only reflect on who they are but also on what it means 'to be' or 'to exist.'”

— Robert Hightower, Artist (48 Hills)

What’s next

Hightower's upcoming exhibition at the 111 Minna Gallery in September 2026 is expected to further showcase his powerful and unfiltered artistic exploration of mental health and social justice issues.

The takeaway

Robert Hightower's raw and vulnerable paintings demonstrate how art can be a transformative tool for personal growth and social change, offering viewers a safe space for self-reflection and a deeper understanding of the complex human experience.